Film-developing apparatus



Jan. 22 1924.

H. c; F. MORANT FILM DEVELOPING APFARATUS Filed Oct. 22. 1920 PatentedJan. 22, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

FILM-DEVELOPING APPARATUS.

Application filed October 22, 1920. Serial No. 418366.

To (LN whom it maiy concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY CHARLES .FRANK MonxNT, a subject of the Kingof Great Britain, of: Monbulk, Riversdale load Hawthorn, in the State ofVictoria, Australia, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Film-Developing .Apparatus, of which the following is aspecification.

In app-aratus at present used in developing a length of photographicfilm during daylight no provision is made for observance of thedevelopment of the film or the development of individual negatives norfor controllng the time limit of immersion of each which is necessary inorder to secure the best development ofeach negative where the exposurehas been more or less faulty.

The present invention contemplates provision for the observance andimmersion manipulation stated and this is attained by a box shapedreceptacle or tank containing the developing solution provided with aglass celluloid or like cover of transparent material of a color thatwill prevent actinic light rays Operating to afiect the sensitive film.

In order to facilitate observance of the film during development thesides of the tanl: are tted with one or more panels of ruby coloredglass or celluloid and a lamp is arranged to project light rays On tothe ihn surface.

Mani imlating means are provided within said .box receptacle fordetachably securing the usual film spool and also external manu ally'etuated means for rotating same to cause unwrapping of the film fromone spool and its travel along the interior space to a receiving ortransfer spool. Also within the receptacle are means for depressingsections of the film into the developing solution during its travel fromend to end of the box receptacle, and at the same time preventing thenegative surfaces while immersed Contacting with other surfaces in thecontainer.

One practical form of the invention is depicted in the accompanyingdrawings whereof- Fig. 1 is a plan of the apparatus with the coverremoved of a form of the invention for the independent development ofnegatives.

Fig. 2 a longitudinal vertical section through the apparatus.

Fig. 3 a vertical transverse section on line III-III, Fig. 2, and

Fig. 4 a fragmentary section on line IV- IV of Fig. 1.

As illustrated the apparatus comprises a rectangular vessel 1 which maybe subdivided by one or more partitions such as 2 to form separatereceptacles 3-4 to contain respectively developing solution and water.

At opposite ends of the tank near the top means are provided forConveniently attaching for rotation the film spool 5 and the transferspool 6. As illustrated a` short stud 7 is fixed on the wall and isadapted to engage the usual axial recess 8 in one end of the spoolwhilst the other end of the spool is attached to the end of a crankshaft 9 which enters the axial recess 10 of the spool and is providedwith a transverse pin 11 the projecting ends of which engage endrecesses 12 formed in the end of the spool. The shaft 9 extends throughthe wall of the tank and a bearing sleeve 13 thereon and is providedwith means to rotate the sh'aft such as a crank handle 14. A spring 15is wrapped on the portion of the shaft between the tank wall and aWasher 16 at the inner end of said shaft which maintains the connectionof the spool with the shaft.

In order to release the spool the latter is' moved endwise against thepressure of the spring to free first the stud 7 and then the inner endof the crank shaft and by reverse action the spool is rotatably fittedin the tank.

The end of the wrapper attached to the film spool 5 is passed along thetank and its end is attached to the transfer spool 6 means beingprovided for insuring the film F as it is drawn from spool 5 to spool 6being immersed in the liquid in the receptacles.

As illustrated the means consist of an immerser comprising a pair ofarms 17 fixed to a shaft 18 rotatably mounted in the side walls of thetank one end of the shaft projecting through the wall and bent to form acrank handle 19.

Said arms bear upon the side edges of the film and the arms of eachimmerser may be connected by a curved bridge piece 20.

Said arms and bridge piece may be formed ot' a suitably bent singlelength of vvire the ends of which are fixed to the shaft 18 asillustrated Whilst the don nivardly project ing loops 30 act guides forthe film. It Will be understood that by tnrning the Cl'tl'lll arms aportion of the film, i. e. a single negative may be pressed down tillfnlly immersed in the developing solution or the Water.

A fianged metal cover 21 fits over the tank said cover having a rubytinted glass panel 22 and provided With a' hinged lid 23.

One side of the tank may he provided With ruhy tinted gass pancls toadmit light on the negative in each re xcptacle so that hy looking downthrough the transparent panel 22 of the cover, the pro 'ress ofdevelopment of each negative in snccession may he observed In lien ofthe transl' arent side panels an electric ruby tinted lamp 25' in v hepio vided on theinte'ior side ot' the ,k wall as shown in' Fignycs 1.and 2 said hinip heing in circnit With a l ratteiy oi,- other source otelectric current. i

In order to faciltate the Washing ot the negatives by the solution thebottom ot' the tank may bc provided With rochers 26 on the nnderside.

In practice When developing n egzativcs individnally inthe appai'atus ilnstratcd, the developing solution and the Water are supplied to thetanlst, the fihn spo-ol is iittcil to its crank shet& and the end oi"the' wrapper'attached to the film is pas i thronth the tanlz over thepai'tition 2 and attachcd to the transfer spool 6, after which thecove:: is placed on the tank and the spool 6 isrotated to draw thesensitized film into the receptacle 3 coi'itaining the developing sehrtion When the inn nerser arms are turned down to dep'ess a 'iegativeinto the solution. The tanh is then rocked till hy ()'l)S(-`l z`tl(through the transparent panel of the cover it is 'scertained that thenegative is setticiently developed When the sponl (3 i'm tated to bringthe 'next negative into the solution and the previous one into the vashing Water contained in the next receptaele t.

By this means' each negative may he develoI ed independent ot the othersof a film the completely developed film being tvomd on the spool 6 whichis then removed from the tank to enable the negatives to be immcrsed ina fixing bath.

I clainu- 1. Improved film developing appa'atus comptising a containertor developing solution and having means for manipulating the film 'saidcontainer having means to permit observation of the film and means toprevent passage of actinic light rays and a lamp arranged to projectnonactinic light rays on the film.

2. Improved film developing apparatus comprising` a container toi"developing S0l11- tion and having means to pcrnit ohservation of thefilm and means to prevent passage of actinic light rays,- a film spooland transfer spool each detachahly inonnted in the container.

3. mpt'oved filni developing apparatns conprising a container toi'devclopng solntio'n and having means toi" niani nilating the film, saidco-inainei` hei arranged to pei'init ob'servation 'of the ihn and.prevent passage of actinic light ray& and means to innie'se eachnegative in the dcveloping so'- ln'tion and including Operating ineansarranged exteriorly of the contai e e. improved film developing pparatnscomprising a conte-iher toi' developing solution' 'and having means formani. pnlating the film, said container being ari-an l to permitohservation of the film and prevent saqe of actinic light rave and filmiinnierseis each consisting of arms', a shutt to which' said arms arefixed, said shatt yeing monnted in hearings in Walls of the contaner andartanged With one end projecting through one Wall, and a crank handle onsaid projecting end.

5. improved film developing apparatns coinp'isng a container fordeveloping SOlIltion and having means for nanipnlating the ti in, saidcontainer having means to perinit observation of the film and means to'prevent passage of actinic light rave, and, lihi-1 irnnn'sers eachconsisting of a shatt inounted for pivotzl movement in walls oi" thecontainer and arms fixed to said shatt, said arms having projectinghooks a't their ends.

Dated this 13th day of August,` 1920.

HENRY CHARLES FRANK MORANT.

